As a 16-year-old playing for Norwegian club, Strømsgodset, Martin Ødegaard was the most sought-after teenager on the planet. After training with various clubs around Europe, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich, it was Real Madrid that won the Norwegian over.
From playing with Martin Rønning Ovenstad and Gustav Wikheim, Ødegaard now found himself sharing a changing room with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos.
The teenager seemed destined to be a star for Los Blancos, but his move to Madrid came with its fair share of problems. He struggled to cement a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans and in 2017, he decided a loan move to gain first-team experience was the best move.
SC Heerenveen to Vitesse to Real Sociedad to Arsenal: for four years, Ødegaard backpacked around Europe trying to find a permanent home. His last, and most successful, loan spell at Arsenal meant he was bound to see game time at Real Madrid – at long last.
Unfortunately, his return to Madrid coincided with the return of his former manager, Ancelotti. Once again, the Italian had made it clear that Ødegaard was not going to see regular first-team football. Six years later, the midfielder, now 22-years-old decided he needed to leave Spain for good.
Arsenal managed to secure his services for a £36 million bargain, almost half of what was once rumoured to lure Madrid into selling.
Since the move, Ødegaard has proved a revelation in Arsenal’s young side. His new coach, Mikel Arteta, has demonstrated how strongly he believes in the attacking midfielder by giving him a key role in the new look Gunners side.
Playing alongside fellow youngsters Emile Smith-Rowe, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Ødegaard, known amongst fans as the Norwegian magician, has thrived.
Fans are beginning to see Ødegaard perform at his best; five goals, three assists and several match-winning performances later, he has shown himself to be a dependable creator in the Arsenal side.
It is not only the performances of the 23-year-old which have caught the eye of Arsenal fans. His leadership qualities have also been noticed. The Arsenal side have often been seen by pundits and supporters as spineless, lacking real leadership and having a soft core. The Norwegian has changed this. Having been made Norway captain in March 2021, Ødegaard has experience of leading a side and he has brought these qualities to North London. As a result, he is now considered a front runner for the permanent role of Arsenal skipper, set to be announced later this season.
With the race for the top four heating up, Ødegaard will have to remain at his best to give Arsenal the greatest possible chance to secure their place in the Champions League next season.
I am a freelance writer and journalism student at City, UoL, writing culture and sport.